Iran-Iraq War

6 th most lethal war of the 20 th Century

1979

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Tensions Territorial disputes in the Straits of Hormuz Shatt al Arab Waterway Iranian Revolution Anti Ba’ath riots Attempted assassination of Tariq Aziz Expulsion of 70,000 Shi’ites Instigation of riots in Khuzestan

Resources Iraq 200,000 soldiers, 2,000 tanks and 450 aircraft 1979 Oil boom 33 Billion$ Extensive loans from Kuwait $20 million from Saudi Arabia Extensive US aid Sale of weapons Iran Officer purges 85 senior generals 12,000 officers 60% desertion Lack of spare parts for US made equipment 1000 tanks 200 aircraft

Saddam’s Miscalculation Revolutionary disorder or revolutionary fervor? Protracted war: Iran unwilling to cease fighting, Iraq unable Highly asymmetrical due to Iraqi access to advanced weaponry indiscriminate ballistic-missile attacks on cities by both sides, mostly by Iraq extensive use of chemical weapons (mostly by Iraq) 520 attacks on third-country oil tankers

Tanker War and the War on the Cities Attacks on 3 rd country oil tankers leaving Iranian ports Attacks on cities inflicting damage on civilian population February 1984, 12,000 Iranian civilian casualties

Iran Air 655 July 3, 1988 USS Vincennes fires on Iranian civilian aircraft 290 Killed 1996 "...the United States recognizes the aerial incident of 3 July 1988 as a terrible human tragedy and expressed deep regret over the loss of lives caused by the incident.. $61 Million compensation

Foreign Aid Iraq directly supported with arms and finances by Kuwait, SA, US US, China, Brazil, USSR, major sales of weapons to both Israel supports Iran Iran-Contra

Weapons of Mass Destruction US exported $500 million of dual use exports to Iraq advanced computers, some used in Iraq's nuclear program. The non-profit American Type Culture Collection and the Centers for Disease Control sold biological samples of anthrax, West Nile virus and botulism to Iraq up until 1989

Operation Anfal Campaign against the Kurdish population of northern Iraq 1986 – 1989 Halabja Massacre March 16, 1988, 3,200 and 5,000 deaths 7,000 to 10,000 casualties mostly civilians. Thousands more died of, diseases, and birth defects after largest chemical weapons attack directed against a civilian-population in history Y0w

Outcomes UN Resolution 598 War ends July 20, ,000 Deaths 1 million permanent invalids, $228 billion expended $400 billion in damage Inconsequential gains exclusive Iraqi sovereignty over the Shatt-al-Arab waterway Hussein surrendered that gain in need of Iran’s neutrality in anticipation of the 1991 Gulf War.

Effects on Regional and International Relations Cements the Iranian Islamic Revolution Entrenches hostility between the US and Iran Increased sectarianism Invasion of Kuwait by Iraq Gulf War I

I

Iraq – Kuwait Dispute Kuwait part of Ottoman province of Basra, The UK drew the border between the two countries in 1922, making Iraq virtually landlocked UAE and Kuwait exceeding its OPEC quotas resulting loss of $7 billion a year to Iraq slant-drilling across the border into Iraq's Rumaila oil field Umm Qasr

Operational Strength KuwaitIraq 16,000 soldiers 3 armored divisions 1 mechanised infantry 1 artillery brigade. 80 aircraft 40 helicopters World’s 4 th largest army 955,000 standing soldiers 650,000 paramilitary forces 5,500 tanks 3,000 artillery pieces 700 combat aircraft and helicopters

UN resolution 660, demanded Iraq withdraw UN 661 initiated economic sanctions UN 665 Hussein proposed that all cases of occupation, and those cases that have been portrayed as occupation, in the region, be resolved simultaneously". Israel withdraw from Syria and Palestine Syria withdraw from Lebanon, and "mutual withdrawals by Iraq and Iran U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia replaced by and Arab force not to include Egypt Normalization of relations with Iraq

Second Iraqi Proposal guaranteed access to the Persian Gulf through the Kuwaiti islands of Bubiyan and Warbah“ Iraq to gain full control of Rumaila oil field that extends into Kuwaiti territory". negotiate an oil agreement with US develop a joint plan 'to alleviate Iraq's economical problems' and 'jointly work on the stability of the Gulf U.N. lift sanctions Iraq withdraw from Kuwait and allow foreigners to leave

UN 678 gave Iraq until 15 January 1991 to withdraw from Kuwait and empowered states to use "all necessary means" to force Iraq out of Kuwait after the deadline.

Coalition 34 countries the largest since WW II Kuwait $15 Billion Saudi, Syria, Egypt, Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar

The Air War 17 January ,000 sorties, 75 aircraft lost Elimination of Iraqi air force 259 destroyed, 140 fled to Iran Elimination of radar capabilities, media centers air superiority Destruction of strategic infrastructure Civilian casualties 2278

Ground War 24 February Coalition Enters Kuwait and crosses Iraqi border to the west with 150,000 troops and 1,500 tanks Kuwaiti forces liberate Kuwait City After 4 days Iraqi forces leave Kuwait Coalition extents to 150 miles from Baghdad before withdrawing to the border

Battle of 73 Easting The bulk of Iraqi forces positioned in Kuwait supported by reserve IRG tanks Global Positioning System technology 3 US mechanized divisions advanced 120 miles in 82 hours First ground defeat of the Republican Guard

Highway of Death Highway 80 and Highway 8 between Kuwait City and Basra 2000 vehicles destroyed or abandoned deaths Accusation of violation of the Geneva Convention

Ecological Crisis 732 oil wells set on fire and mined 1 billion barrels burned 300,000 barrels per day in open but not burning wells Last well capped November 6, 1991 Military advantage

Scud Missiles/ Israel 88 Scud missiles were fired by Iraq during the war's seven weeks Attempt to provoke Israel into conflict and undermine the coalition Patriot Missile Defense System 74 Israelis killed 47 attacks on SA, 1 Bahrain, 1 Qatar

Uprisings Ceasefire agreement 28 February 1991 Speeches by George H.W. Bush "The Voice of Free Iraq“ Sha'aban Intifada among Arabs and as the National Uprising among Kurds 14 of 18 provinces under rebel control Rebellion put down by Republican Guard 80,000 to 200,000 casualties mostly civilians Marsh Arabs No Fly Zone

Casualties Coalition: US 148 combat deaths 145 non-combat accidents U.K. suffered 47 deaths 18 Saudis, 1 Egyptian 6 UAE 3 Qataris least 605 Kuwaiti soldiers were still missing 10 years after their capture. Over 1,000 Kuwaiti civilians 3,664 Iraqi civilians Further 100,000 from the effects of war 20,000 – 35,000 combat deaths

Outcomes Coalition did not seek regime change or occupation Limited objectives, expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait Increased sectarianism Kurdish autonomy Increased military cooperation: US and Gulf States ‘New World Order’ End of History